watercourse
UK: ˈwɔːtəkɔːs | US: ˈwɔːtərkɔːrs
n. a natural or artificial channel through which water flows, such as a river, stream, or canal.
The word "watercourse" combines "water," derived from Old English wæter (related to Proto-Germanic watōr), and "course," from Old French cours (Latin cursus, meaning "a running or flow"). The term logically merges the concepts of water and its directional movement, reflecting its function as a defined pathway for water. Historically, it emphasizes the natural or man-made structuring of water flow, evolving from practical descriptions of hydrological features.
The new dam altered the natural watercourse of the river.
Farmers rely on this watercourse for irrigating their fields.
The city’s drainage system includes an underground watercourse.
Environmentalists are working to restore the polluted watercourse.
Heavy rains caused the watercourse to overflow its banks.